VZCZCXYZ0004
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHTU #0615 2371501
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 251501Z AUG 09
FM AMEMBASSY TUNIS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6713
INFO RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCNMGH/MAGHREB COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS TUNIS 000615 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EEB/CBA (WINSTEAD AND GILMAN) AND NEA/MAG 
STATE PASS USTR (BURKHEAD) AND USAID (MCCLOUD) 
USDOC FOR ITA/MAC/ONE (MASON), ADVOCACY CTR (TABINE), AND CLDP 
(TEJTEL AND MCMANUS) 
CASABLANCA FOR FCS (KITSON) 
CAIRO FOR SPEAKS/O'DOWD 
LONDON AND PARIS FOR NEA WATCHER 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON ETRD EAGR TS
SUBJECT: TUNISIA: ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS 
 
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Summary 
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¶1. (U) This cable contains highlights of recent economic 
developments in Tunisia on the following topics: 
 
¶A. Tunisia Creates Consumer Agency 
¶B. New, More Comprehensive IPR Law 
¶C. Rain and Subsidies Result in a Strong Cereal Harvest 
¶D. US $4 million Ecotourism Project in North-West Tunisia 
 
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Tunisia Creates Consumer Agency 
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¶2. (U) On August 7, the GOT announced the creation of the National 
Consumer Institute.  The Institute, an adaptation of a French agency 
with the same name and mission, will work to improve consumers' 
purchasing power, carry out market research, and conduct studies of 
consumer behavior.  It will also liaise with existing consumer 
organizations.  Its operations will be financed by the GOT, 
supplemented by international donors and by proceeds from reports 
and services.  The GOT move to create an agency for consumers 
reflects the growth of Tunisia's retail sector and Tunisians' 
expanding appetite for consumer goods. 
 
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New, More Comprehensive IPR Law 
------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (U) A new intellectual property rights law came into effect on 
June 30 to update the existing 1994 statute.  The new law provides 
expanded legal protection for digital literary and artistic works, 
drawings, designs and advertising slogans, and computer programs. 
Copyright protections are extended to lifetime plus fifty years, up 
from 25 years under the previous law.  The Ministry of Commerce and 
Handicrafts estimates that the market for pirated and counterfeited 
products represents as much as eight percent of Tunisia's GDP.  This 
upgraded law, if fully implemented, should provide more tools to 
fight IPR violations and improve Tunisia's investment climate. 
 
--------------------------------------------- - 
Spring Rains Result in a Strong Cereal Harvest 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶4. (U) Thanks to abundant spring rains, Tunisia expects a strong 
cereal harvest this year with total production estimates of 2.5 
million metric tons (MT), based on actual collection figures of 1.1 
million MT to date.  Last year's harvest was only 1.2 million MT, 
down from an average of 1.8 million MT in recent years.  This year's 
strong harvest will help maintain Tunisia's GDP growth.  The GOT 
recently liberalized imports of feed wheat and barley but tightly 
controls imports of the soft and durum wheat varieties used for 
bread, couscous, and pasta.  This year's harvest is estimated to 
cover 65 percent of domestic grain consumption, estimated at 2.7 
million MT a year.  On August 11 the GOT filled the gap with a 
purchase of 117,000 MT of wheat sourced from the Black Sea region. 
 
 
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$4 million Ecotourism Project in North West Tunisia 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
¶5. (U)  The Tunisian village of Beni M'tir, 80 miles west of Tunis 
and home of Tunisia's warmest hot spring (163 degrees F), is the 
site of a USD 4 million tourism investment project partially 
financed by the European Union.  The new spa, which will include 
bungalows equipped with hot-spring Jacuzzis, will be both an 
eco-tourism and health tourism destination (the hot springs are 
supposed to treat rheumatism, skin problems, and other ailments). 
Tunisia is seeking to diversify its tourism base away from 
mass-market beach resorts toward niche sectors focusing on Tunisia's 
ecological, cultural, and religious attractions.